BACK TO THE BASICS:
Safe Right Turns

Large vehicles accelerate slowly and make exceptionally wide right turns, requiring more time, space and driver attention to safely enter traffic than smaller vehicles. For this reason, drivers of smaller vehicles often fail to consider the extra precautions commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers must take and may even try to pass a CMV on the right during a right-turn maneuver. This act could easily result in collision. Unfortunately, even if the unsafe act of another motorist causes the collision, it may still be considered preventable by your CMV driver.

To avoid right-turn crashes, drivers should signal their turn well in advance and leave the signal on until the turn has been successfully completed. Signaling the intention to turn early provides other motorists time to respond and allows drivers to keep both hands on the wheel throughout the turn. Holding the steering wheel firmly with both hands is necessary to prevent it from pulling away from drivers’ hands in the event the vehicle hits a pothole or curb.

Right turns must be executed slowly, at a speed no faster than three miles per hour, to allow plenty of time to avoid problems and respond if a vehicle attempts to pass on the right. Drivers should look to the path they will enter to identify pedestrians, approaching vehicles and other obstacles. They must also check their mirrors frequently and stop immediately if a vehicle or pedestrian they could once see in their mirror is no longer visible.

Drivers should not cross over the center line or markings of the lane they are exiting and, if possible, they should not cross into lanes of opposing traffic on the street they are entering. However, if it is not possible to execute the turn without swinging into another lane, drivers should turn wide as they complete the turn, keeping the rear of the vehicle close to the curb. Extra caution should be taken because following motorists may think the driver is actually turning left. Drivers should aim to keep the rear wheels of the CMV about four feet from the curb to prevent other drivers from passing on the right, while still leaving enough space to ensure the trailer does not ride onto the curb where it could strike a person or another object.

While executing a right turn, drivers should observe their right mirror and watch out their right window for anything that could prevent the safe completion of the turn. However, it is important that drivers not become so focused on the right side of the vehicle that they forget to look ahead, which could allow a collision to occur on the front end.

Include information on completing safe right turns in all student driver training programs, company road tests and the retraining of experienced drivers. Periodically remind drivers of the importance of safe right turns.

Baldwin & Lyons is offering free copies of our Safety Tips for Making Right Turns handout cards, while supplies last. To order these handout cards, contact the Loss Prevention Resource Library at 317-636-9800 or email thequill@baldwinandlyons.com.

Please refer to the Resource Library for video training programs offering instruction on safe right turns.

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